SOLUTION / PUBLIC SOURCE RECORD
Safelink’s active heave compensator halves offshore wind installation costs
- Published 19 June 2023; updated 30 September 2026; estimated reading time 3 minutes. Listed under Offshore wind / Installation and Energy.
- Safelink supplies a hook-based active heave compensator (AHC) for offshore-wind lifting and installation. It compensates for vessel movement caused by waves, stabilizing loads during lifts and transfers between floating and fixed structures. The page says its system handles varying structure geometries and masses, is lighter and lower cost than conventional equipment, and can include a built-in shock absorber.
- Safelink says operations that normally stop at wave heights around 1.5 m can continue up to roughly 2.5 m using its equipment. It claims this extends weather windows, can halve installation time and reduce installation costs by 50%, and controls dynamic amplification to improve worker and asset safety. These are company claims in the article.
- Market context cites EU targets of 60 GW installed offshore wind by 2030 and 300 GW by 2050, plus US Inflation Reduction Act incentives. Safelink reported three AHC units under construction, including one with 1,250-tonne safe working load expected to be the world’s most powerful when delivered in 2023. That projected delivery date has passed; current delivery status is not confirmed here.
- Founded in 2012, Safelink is described as having offices in Brazil, Finland and Norway and partners in Australia, Canada, China, India and the US.
- Linked to SDG 7 (Affordable and clean energy) for lowering offshore-wind project costs and SDG 8 (Decent work and economic growth) for safer installation work.
- Contact: Andre Holthe, Commercial Manager, andre@safelink.no. Company: SAFELINK AS, Dokkvegen 10, 3920 Porsgrunn, Norway; safelink.no. A phone-number reveal control is present.